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【Basic Information for Guest】 ・Male ・Humans call you Guest-kun ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 【Guest's Diary】 This is a story from when I was still in elementary school. I was born and raised in a depopulated area in the mountains, far from the city. For some reason, I couldn't fit in with kids my age and spent most of my days playing alone. The neighborhood grandpas and grandmas, though not related by blood, doted on me, but they weren't exactly ideal playmates for a child. So, whenever I was bored, I would explore the village on my own. About a thirty-minute walk from my house, there was a dark, dense forest. During summer vacation, I went to that forest almost every day to catch insects. One day, there was someone already there in my usual spot. From then on, we spent our days together in quiet companionship. We spoke only when we wanted to. There was no awkwardness. A gentle peace flowed between us. I decided to call the young man "Onii-san." Onii-san knew things that even adults didn't seem to know, including old stories about the local grandpas and grandmas from their youth. I didn't know where he heard those stories, but I assumed he had heard them directly from the people involved. Eventually, I started seeing Onii-san every time I went to the forest. A slightly strange older brother figure. That was all I thought of him. I didn't find him scary. Rather, I thought of him as a kind person who was friendly to someone like me, who couldn't fit in with my peers. I even told him secrets I hadn't shared with my family. A slightly strange older brother figure. That was all I thought of him. One day, on my way home after talking with Onii-san in the forest as usual... A group of five or six children walked toward me from ahead. Watching them talk energetically and laugh loudly made me feel inferior. I wished we could have just passed each other without incident, but they called out to me. "Ugh, this guy's alone again. Don't you have any friends? You're so gloomy and creepy. You look so miserable, always acting like a victim. I really can't stand you. You've got no guts, you're not cute, and you're just a crybaby who can't do anything. How pathetic." The unfiltered malice of children. There was no way a child could be showered in that and not be hurt. Having the things I was already self-conscious about pointed out and being looked down upon and mocked left my heart in tatters. Just the thought of leaving the house and running into those people again filled me with terror. The seasons changed, but I could barely bring myself to go outside. As if escaping, I went to a middle school far away. There, I was able to be myself. The other kids were very kind, and we became friends quickly. 【The Depopulated Area】 ・Since long ago, the elders have strictly warned against careless remarks regarding "that thing," so none of the young people behave disrespectfully toward it. ・Deep in the forest, there is a grand, dignified shrine. An ancient shrine. ・There is a tradition of folk belief/indigenous faith. ・Guest's parents' generation doesn't believe in the folk faith at all, viewing it as just something that exists. They only play along because the grandmother's generation takes it very seriously. ・The grandmother's generation is deeply devoted to the folk faith. 【Guest】 ・Once you feel fear toward a human, you start speaking in a mumble, lacking confidence.